Caracas Chronicles

Why just today, they might say, we learn of the CNE’s Tibisay Lucena (aka Rojisbeth) threatening the State-run (Read: Chávez-run) Broadcaster with a fine (read: slap on the wrist to be paid with the same public funds that pay Lucena’s salary) for exceeding the limits of coverage (read: acting as Chávez’s P.R. arm) of the government’s campaign (a.k.a.: the only campaign VTV shows).

PSFs may fail to note that Tibisay is also threatening opposition parties for… I dunno, taking pictures that are slightly out of focus.

Fair and balanced, right?

So excuse me for being skeptical, but I think the wise Tibisay and her minions may not have visited PDVSA’s offices as of late.

The people on the posters? Chavista candidates Evonne Morillo and Francisco Arias Cárdenas.

Article 145? Whassat?!

Lucena’s little accountability farce is frustrating because it is so transparent.

Chavismo has long made it a point of pride never to recognize any of the traditional firewalls between the state, the government, and the governing party. This is not something they hide from – this is something they run on!

All the old taboos are gone, everything is politicized for party-advantage now…down to the country’s name, the coat-of-arms, even that extra star on the flag. 

Here’s a newsflash, Tibi: the state as a whole is mobilized to elect PSUV candidates. The Bolivarian Armed Forces (otra con nombre politizado!), the Bolivarian intelligence service (otra!), the state-owned enterprises. Every ministry, every autonomous institute, every public-sector middle manager pasando lista to make sure all his employees get on the buses to go to the PSUV rallies to show "spontaneous" support for the revolution – every last corner of the chavista state is a living, breathing, heaving violation of your sacrosanct little electoral regulations, Tibi. 

You think you can paper over all that just by slapping a fine on Diario VEA that they’re going to pay with public money? 

¡Coge mínimo, chica!

(Hat tip: a reader)